End plate for springs.



No. 718,090. PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

' J. CARROLL.

END PLATE FOR SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 13, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

INVENTOR NITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CARROLL, OF OSWEGO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEO. B. SLOAN, J R,

- .OF OSWEGO, NEW YORK.

END PLATE FOR SPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of, Letters Patent N 0. 718,090, dated January 13, 1903. Application filed December 13, 1901. Serial No. 85,754. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN CARROLL, of Oswego, in the county of Oswego, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in End Plates for Springs, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the bearing-plates fitted to the ends of leaf-springs on which the load is supported; and it consists in a particular construction of such end plate by which it is firmly yet detachably secured to the end of the leaf by mechanical means without injuring or weakening the parts.

I-Ieretofore such bearing-plates have commonlybeen secured to the end of the main leaf of the spring by hot or cold welding, so thatthe plate was permanently secured in position without possibility of removal, and when heat was applied there was danger of injuring or weakening the parts, of burning the mainleaf spring, or drawing the temper, rendering it brittle. I have overcome such defects by forming the main leaf with a curved end and the bearing-plate with lugsfengaging with this curved end, so that when theplate is adjusted in position itis locked securely against the possibility of accidental removal and yet can be easily removed, renewed, and replaced by hand without the use of any tool andwithout bending or breaking any of the parts.

My invention will be understood by reference to the drawings, in which the referencenumerals of the specification indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Figure I is a side elevation of a semi-elliptic spring having the bearing-plate in position on one end. Figs. 11 and III are respectively a side elevation and a bottom plan of-the end of the main leaf enlarged. Figs. IVand V are respectively a side elevation and a bottom plan of a bearing-plate. the manner of adjusting the plate in position on the main leaf. Figs. VII and VIII are bottom plans of the endplate, showing modification in the form of the lugs.

In the figures, 1 indicates the semi-elliptic spring, of which the various leaves are locked together by band 2, 3 being the main leaf, having each end4 curved or hooked to form Fig. VI shows.

a rather. shallow cross-groove'5 on its lower surface and with cut-out recesses 6 on the sides. This groove is preferably the arc of a circle, and the top 7 of the hook is formed in the arc of a similar or smaller circle, whereby a strong hook on the end of the main leaf is produced to'engage with the lugs on the bearing-plate and maintain it'securely in one position.

10 is the endplate or bearing-plate, formed to fit the end of the main leaf, so that it may be easily swung or rocked into engagement, as illustrated in Fig. VI, where the end of the main leaf is shown'in elevation and the plate in section. The end plate is formed with end flange 11, covering or protecting the end of the main leaf or hook, with the side flanges 12 fittingthe end recesses, so as to be flush with the edge of the main leaf and the whole spring, and with the inwardly-extending lugs 13 integral with said side fianges and fitting the cross-groove 5. These lugs are preferably curved on their upper surfaces and flat on their lower, substantially to fit and fill said grooves and lie flush with the under surface of the main leaf and extend inwardly, as best shown in Fig. V, about to the edge of the hanger-slot in the end plate, though they may be shorter, as shown in Fig. VII, or connected and cut away by the slot, as shown in Fig.

VIII. The plate may be variously formed to receive and support various forms of hangers, such as the Well-known stirrup hanger, depending on each sideof the end plate and spring,or the gib hanger 20,as here shown, depending through slot 21 in the end plate and slot 22 in the main leaf and sustained in groove 23 on top of end plate by pin.24, or

may be formed in well-known way,with upper ears and bolt to support upper element of spring. My bearing-plate, made of wrought or malleable iron or other suitable material, is economical to make and'to apply to the spring and is not liable to be accidentally removed and lost and yet can be easily removed by hand when the weight is taken off the spring without the danger of injuring any of the parts by the use of a tool, so that neither the end plate nor, what is more important, the spring is injured by the assembling or separating of the parts. It is particularly adapted for use with heavy springs, such as elliptic or semi-elliptic, used for locomotives,tenders, &c., or may be applied to lighter springs and those of various forms.

Having thus described rnyinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a semi-elliptic spring having curved ends, of end plates fitted to said ends and resting thereon, and an integral portion or portions of said plate extending under the curved ends to maintain the plate in position.

2. In a leaf-spring, the combination with the main leaf having a cross-groove on its under side near each end, of plates fitting said ends and having integral lugs fitting the groove, to maintain the plates securely in position against accidental displacement.

. 3. In a spring-leaf, the combination with a series ofleaves, ofa main leaf having curved or hooked ends and a cross-groove on the under side of each hook, of a plate fitted to said ends, and integral lugs on the lower side of said plate fitting the groove and adapted to maintain the plate securely in position on the main leaf.

4. In an elliptic or semielliptic spring, the combination with a main leaf having a crossgroove on its under side near each end,.of a bearing-plate fitting the ends of the spring, integral lugs on under side of the plate inwardly extending toward each other, formed with their upper surfaces fitted to the groove and their lower surfaces flat to correspond with the lower surfaces of the spring, whereby the end plate is maintained securely in position on the spring.

5. In a semi-elliptic spring, the combination with a main leaf having hooked ends forming a cross-groove on their under sides, of bearing-plates fitted to said ends, integral flanges on the sides of the plates depending on each side of the main leaf and integral, inwardly-extending lugs on said side flanges, said lugs being substantially fitted to the groove to lock the plate in position.

6. In a semi-elliptic spring, the combination of a main leaf having curved or hooked ends formed with a cross-groove on their under surfaces, of bearing-plates having integral end flanges depending at the end of the leaf, integral side flanges continuous with the end flanges depending on the sides of the leaf and integral, inwardly-extending lugs on said side flanges fitted to the grooves, to lock the plates in position.

7. In a semi-elliptic spring, the combination with a main leaf, of integral curved or hooked ends on said leaf having recesses on each side at the end and a cross-groove on their under side formed in the arc of a circle,

the top of said hook being a ridge formed also in the arc of a circle, of bearing-plates fitted to said hooked ends, integral end flanges on said plates covering the end of the main leaf, integral side flanges on the plates fitting said recesses and integral inwardly-extending lugs on said flanges fitted to the cross-groove and adapted to lock the plate against accidental displacement.

8. In a leaf-spring, the combination with a main leaf having its ends formed with crossgrooves and recesses on each side at the end, said groove being the arc of a circle and the end of the spring above the groove being a ridge in the arc of a smaller circle, bearingplates fitted to said ends, integral flanges fitting the recesses and lying flush with the sides of the leaf, and lugs on the flanges to fit and fill the grooves, Where the parts are assembled.

9. In a semi-elliptic spring, the combination with the main leaf having curved or hooked ends, of bearing-plates fitted to said ends, and extensions on the bearing-plates to engage with said ends and maintain the bearing-plates secn rely but detachably in position.

10. In a semi-elliptic spring, the combination with the main leaf having curved or bent ends, of bearing-plates fitted to said ends and resting thereon, and integral extensions on the bearing-plates to engage with said ends, when the bearing-plates are adjusted in position, and adapted to maintain the bearingplates securely but detachably in position on the springs.

11. In a semi-elliptic spring, the combination with the main leaf, of bearing-plates arranged above and supported onsaid leaf at both ends, and integral lugs on said plates engaging with grooves on the under side of said leaf, whereby the plates are maintained securely but detachably in position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

JOHN CARROLL. n s.]

Witnesses:

F. E. SOUTHLAND, F. B. SHEPHERD. 

